New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-03
COST1GAN, GRACE AND FRYER
AN APPEALING LETTER TO THE Ex-MAYoR
TIE CUSTODIAN TO THE POST orTICE WAS TRYING
TO FREEZE OUT HIS ASSISTANT.

TIRE CUSTODIAN TO THE POST OFFICE WAS TRYING
TO FREEZE OUT HIS ASSISTANT.
The dramatic episode involved in the publication Of
tho Squirrel lynn letter does not appear TO have
impressed itself with due solemnity upon Thomas
Costgan, the Democratic leader of tho County
Democracy hosts 10 the XVIII Assembly District or
to have induced William r. Grfce, after having had
active hand in giving publicity to that letter to
take proper that confidential missves addressed
to him touching the ins and outs OF Democratic
machine politics should not SEQ TOO much daylight.
This much In the way Of preface 10 Introductory to
the publication herewith OF letter written BY Mr..
Costgan to Mayor Grace last :all, involving
Custodian Fryer Of the Post Office Building, more or
less known 40 brothe in law Of exSecretary Man.
uing, aud showing incidentally how Hubert y.
Thompson ran tho machine.
The letter has reached the light through interest
ing series Of circumstances. There Is junk chop In
Seventh-ave. not many blocks from I"enty-thiro-st
Edwin 7. Ostaldiestone, Of the wel-known company
Of Ostaldiestone Brothers, masseur at No. III Sixth
ave., had occasion recently to use good many old
ews,apers, and at this shop he procured supply.
Among them was a morning newspaper Of date in
November last and spread out fully open between tho
leaves lay letter written on single sheet of note
paper and bearing the monogram In blue: 7. C."
This Is a copy:of the letter
pany with Commissioner Mitchell Intending to call
distinguished visitors and we concluded to postpone
our call till this afternoon.
While e primaries last evening heard
means OF ayerting the trouble except by promptly APP
pealg to you for the exercise OF your good offices in the
premises.
These are the facts At the request Of poor Thompson,
Secretary Manning appointed Mr. Charles COnley assist
ant custodian of the Post ONCE Building and custodian
of the Post Office L0ckB Fund at salary OF " 600
$1,000 During Mr. ThS% rs is%s S0HisS
Gated by Met. At that time Marshall Ehrhardt was
ofcio custodian Of the Post Office subsequently, the
William j. Fryer, was appointed ofico custodian:
learned last evening that Mr. Fryer has recommended to
the Treasury Department that the Lock Box Fund
should be placed under the jurisdiction OF the Newfork
pensed with The result Of this would be to give Mr..
Pearson another appointment and throw out OF employ
ment Mr.. Conlcy. 49,
ington and therefore. unable to verify my nforma
ton appeal to him to suspend action. Any action
that would nure Mr. Conley wou be very unfortunate
for me at the present moment He y the strongest
old school trustee treasurer ct the largest Catholic
church on the West Side of cur :owl and an original
County Democrat he was one Of the very best Of the
subordinate appointments made by Mr.. Manning His
removal OF freezing out would demoraze our entire
committee and people In the XVIII District
What beg Of you to do s to have precipitae action
stopped and II after election time there Is found any
good reason for this proposed change VIII gracefully
w" ~ ''' N''''' THos. CosrraAx
Mr.. CoLley still retains his nominal position at the
Post Office, althor gh MIR. Fryer has kept patiently
hammering away at tho Observation-Disclosures func-
tons until he has reduced his sphere OF activity to
the smallest convenient compass What the Interior
motive OF Mr.. Manning's brother-inaw may prove to
be still remains to be demonstrated by occurrences.